The Interpretation of Dreams Sexuality and Sexual Identity Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Section.Paragraph)

Quote #4

The distressing feeling aroused by these dreams is no doubt identical with the repugnance which tends (usually with success) to restrain us from discussing or mentioning such topics, and which each of us has to overcome if we nevertheless find ourselves compelled to embark on them. But the unpleasurable feeling which thus recurs in dreams does not disprove the existence of a wish. Everyone has wishes that he would prefer not to disclose to other people, and wishes that he will not admit even to himself. (4.1.52)

Although not all of the distressing dreams that Freud analyzes throughout The Interpretation of Dreams have hidden sexual content, many of them do. In this passage, Freud begins to lay the foundation for his lengthy discussion of sexual repression.

Quote #5

In a short paper on anxiety-neurosis, I argued some time ago that neurotic anxiety is derived from sexual life and corresponds to libido which has been diverted from its purpose and has found no employment. Since then this formula has met the test of time; and it enables us now to infer from it that anxiety-dreams are dreams with a sexual content, the libido belonging to which has been transformed into anxiety. (4.1.52)

Because Freud's theories are quite well-known today, it's difficult to imagine the effects that this argument might have had on his early readers. Imagine being told that all of your distressing dreams stem from an unconscious fear of potato chips. That's how strange these ideas might have seemed to those turn-of-the-century readers who weren't used to thinking about the formative influence of sexuality and sexual identity in their lives.

Quote #6

She was putting a candle into a candlestick; but the candle broke so that it wouldn't stand up properly. The girls at her school said she was clumsy; but the mistress said it was not her fault. (5.2.39)

Freud records this short dream as part of a long list of examples of dreams that have hidden ("latent") sexual significance. We're sure you can anticipate his interpretation of it if you put your dirty-mind thinking caps on. Here's a hint: in Freud's view, the dream includes phallic symbols and references to masturbation and impotence.